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SCMP Reporter

District councillors question why work on tourist project won't start until 2010

Plans have been disclosed to turn Mui Wo into a 'leisure historic rural town' with renovation projects  and restructuring along the waterfront.

A Planning Department paper proposes retaining what it terms the rustic culture of the Lantau beach resort and ferry port while giving it a facelift to attract tourists.

The plan includes a new entrance plaza at the pier with a waterfront boardwalk to the town square. A waterfront promenade is also proposed south of the pier.

Meanwhile, in the older part of the town, streetlights and paving will be revamped to give a traditional feel.

A cycle track is proposed to link with the existing mountain bike network in southern Mui Wo, which leads to Pui O  and South Lantau. A heritage trail would connect the old town with Pak Ngan Heung, Silvermine Cave  and Silvermine Bay  waterfall as an environmental attraction.

District councillors welcomed the plan and said they were glad it had finally been put on the table after years of discussions, but they asked why work was not planned to  start for  four years. The proposed starting date is 2010.

The paper will go to the Island District Council on Monday.

Council vice-chairwoman Chau Chuen-heung  said it was the first concrete step by the government to improve Mui Wo since the Concept Plan for Lantau was disclosed in late 2004.

'It is a positive response from the government and the proposal adopts a number of suggestions by the local residents,' she said.

However, Ms Chau was cautious about progress of the project and feared it would become just another 'concept plan'.

'The starting date of the project is scheduled for the year 2010. It is definitely not convincing that it has to take another four years for the project to begin,' she said.

'Most of the local residents were anxious about the renovations and it is far too long for them to wait as the talks have been going on for years.'

Ms Chau said transport for the town, once the main gateway to the island but eclipsed by Tung Chung when the Lantau Link   opened, was another question that needed to be solved but was not mentioned in the paper.

'We have demanded for years that the government improve the transport network,' she said.

'Tung Chung Road, which is the only connection between North and South Lantau, has exceeded its capacity and it will be vital to enhance the road network in future development projects.'

Councillor Wong Fuk-kan  said First Ferry should lower fares between Central and Mui Wo on holidays to encourage visitors.

The company at present charges extra on Sundays and public holidays.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung  said he believed the plans could boost tourism but improved infrastructure was needed.



Proposed facelift for Mui Wo is finally on table